A state judge has thrown out a candidate’s petitions, holding that a quadriplegic notary had failed to validly oversee the collection of signatures. Dean Steven Travalino, a non-practicing attorney who is essentially paralyzed from the neck down, traveled with Charles Duffy, Lewisboro Town Supervisor, for three days as Mr. Duffy collected signatures for Peter Michaelis, a write-in candidate for Westchester County Legislature in the upcoming Independence Party primary. A notary’s presence was required under Election Law §6-132(3) because Mr. Duffy is not an enrolled Independence Party member.
As Mr. Duffy knocked on party members’ doors, Mr. Travalino stayed in the car, parked about eight to 25 feet away. Mr. Duffy indicated to the persons whose signatures he sought that the notary could hear their conversation and was there to witness the signatures. Mr. Travalino testified he had not put any of the signers under oath or asked them to swear to the information they provided.
